When did Cannondale turn in to such a pathetic company?

I had the complete opposite experience...

I picked up a new F4000sl with a Fox lefty on it 3 weeks ago. It sat unridden in my basement for the first 8 days, on my first ride, within 3 miles of relatively benign singletrack, the lefty started spewing oil from the lower adjustment knob, all over the rim and worse yet, the disc brake pads. I dropped it off my LBS, that Sunday afternoon 15 minutes before closing, and Monday at 2:15 they called me and had everything repaired/replaced -brakes pads included. They made me a customer for life. I've been riding for longer than I care to admit, and I ride alot, XC, road, 'cross, racing, etc., and IMHO all shops/manufactures will drop the ball from time to time. I think you should talk to the owner or manager, calmly and repectfully and explain your situation and concerns, don't make vague or idol threats, be honest and cool headed, I'd be very suprised if they didn't do something for you in the interm.

Good shop will ALWAYS treat a good customer right.

Cannondale:

PArts supply is a global issue for the biking community. Demand forecasting two years ago did not take into account the growth in sales of new bikes. Shimano had problems meeting demand which has let SRAM in the door with the OEM's (forget that SRAM is better malarky - it's driven by supply and demand)

Cannondale gets a lot of it's internal parts from the East where the infrastructure exists to manufacture these parts cost effectively. At the moment there is a global shortage on bike bits and bobs.
Unfortunately you've been affected because something left the factory damaged or was damaged in transit or at your LBS.

The point is these thing happen. It's not your fault, It's not really Cannondale's fault either.
They'r a relatively small company who buys in components from suppliers too. They simply cannot manufacture everything themselves, the capital investment in machinary would cripple them.


RE Service in General:

No business wants to keep stock on the selves, This is a common business practice Stock on the shelf means revenue lost. For a company rebuilding its image with shareholders and stockholders it's inportant to be profitable. This means operate lean due get as many orders for your kit before you actually manufacture it.
everyone operates this way including GIANT.



I'm not making excuses for them, merely highlighting that this is the way businesses operate in a capitalist world.


So what next?

Well you want to use the bike for XC racing. Why not get a loaner fork i.e. a Conventional telescopic fork fitted in the meantime or alternatively buy a MAgura CCS Headshok Cartridge. It will transform your Headshok Fatty into the best 80mm travel XC fork around and forget the original internals. Cannondale can give you a credit for that or sell you the cartridge at cost.

Talk to them direct. Usually the LBS has it's own agenda...

I would like to love Cannondale, I really would, and back in the day, before being owned by someone other than the Montgomery family, it was easy. Now they are a lean mean corporate speaking machine. I know because I was pulled as a Cannondale dealer. Never mind that I have worked on their product longer than most, or that I am a RABID fan, having owned at least 8 or 9 bikes of theirs in the last 15 years, and having sold and serviced thousands more. All my friends ride Cannondale too, thanks to my steering. How does Cannondale thank me? By cramming a truck load of verbal excrement down my throat about "being happy with present distribution"(excluding me) and "not wanting to be like Trek, with multiple dealers in an area". Be aware they are in it for unit movement, that's it. They are currently trying to make an example out of a local rep who left because he was unhappy with the "new direction", poor fellow has spent un told tens of thousands defending himself. Cannondale makes great bikes, and I love them dearly, but they are no longer in touch with the "passion" they espouse, and it will be their undoing. What does a company do, when coming out of chapter 11? They move all non bike frame related production, overseas, fire alot of long time employees, then start spending money BUYING WHOLE COMPANIES, that are second rate, comparitively, makes sense huh? Nothing against the purchase-ees, but if you've got the $$$ to buy a clothing company, why not invest in your own? Cannondale clothing was better than Sugoi, any day, and oh, by the way Sugoi, you are currently made in Canada, where you think your production is headed? Again, I love 'em but this corporate crap is taking a top shelf company, and destroying it, one customer at a time. Sorry, just had to unload, yeah, the company management sucks, not their bikes.

Cannondale Never made their own clothing.
They did design and specify it but the shorts and tops were made by Nalini in Italy.

Back in the day when they were a thriving family company they did not know what to do with their success. But at least they focussed on core values.

Post Chapter 11 Cannondale is a corporate animal, much like the rest of the brands out there. They have to be if they want to survive.

The acquisition of Sugoi is a step into a more serious clothing production direction.
Having clothingmade up by someone else does not give you a lot of flexibility over production and makes it hard to introduce novel concepts without giving away intellectual property. Having your own factory to manufacture your goods is definately better if you intend to market some novel stuff, not just someones elses with your name on it.

In the old days Cannondale was run by the heart, shareholders got stung and now it's the bean counter's turn.
Unfortunal;te but at least Dubya is not riding one....